The main symbol of this African country is a crossed machete and a hoe, above which a pentagonal star rises in the rays of the sun in red against the background of a blue disk. This whole composition is framed with a wreath woven of corn, cottonwood, coffee, half a wheel. In the lower part, the coat of arms of Angola has an open book of silvery color and a golden ribbon. The name of the country is written on it in Portuguese.
The meaning of some symbols of the Angolan coat of arms
- There is a machete and a hoe in the center of the coat of arms. They signify the struggle of the Angolan people for their independence.
- The book is a symbol of education, prosperity and a high level of culture.
- The five-pointed star is a sign of solidarity, progressive development.
- The rising sun is a sign of a new country.
- Half a wheel is a sign that there is a developed industry in Angola.
- A sheaf of cottonwood, corn and coffee indicates the main agricultural crops grown in this country.
- The ribbon with the name of the country (in golden color) means wealth and confidence in the prosperity of the country. The same color symbolizes the richness of nature and the bowels of the African continent.
- The red color of the rising sun is nothing more than the blood shed by the peoples of Angola for independence. The black color on the coat of arms symbolizes the African Black Continent.
A brief history of the Angolan coat of arms
The coat of arms described above has been the official symbol of the state since 1992. Until that time, the coat of arms of the People's Republic of Angola was mandatory. It was compulsory after this country declared independence from Portugal in 1975. Both coats of arms are exactly the same. The only difference between them is in the name of the state that they symbolize.
We also note that this coat of arms is somehow connected with the revolutionary past of Angola. Indeed, until recently, Angola belonged to the countries of the so-called socialist camp. That is why there is a five-pointed star on it - an obligatory symbol of all socialist countries.
The hoe and machete are also symbols of the recent revolution and civil war in Angola. And the open book shows how important education and a high level of culture are for Angola, because there are still a lot of illiterate people in the country. It was only very recently that the literacy rate began to rise a little.
